The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that it received allegations concerning Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex's father, Thomas Markle Sr, in January 2019 but did not share the information with other law enforcement agencies.
The disclosure follows reports that suspected child sexual abuse material allegedly belonging to Markle was discovered at his former home in the Philippines.
Markle, 82, has denied the allegations, while British police are reviewing their handling of the earlier information.
Scotland Yard said the 2019 letter contained several claims concerning alleged offences outside the United Kingdom and was forwarded to its Protection Command because of potential concerns about Meghan's security.
Officers subsequently passed the information to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex but did not notify other law enforcement authorities.
The force is now examining its response and considering whether to refer itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for independent scrutiny.
Meghan previously stated that she became aware of allegations concerning her father in 2018 and had received assurances that they were being investigated.
Her spokesperson attributed the discrepancy between her recollection and police records to the passage of time.
The allegations resurfaced after The Sun reported that Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, claimed to have discovered suspected abusive images and videos among his father's belongings at a former residence in the Philippines.
He reportedly contacted the FBI in July, while Philippine authorities confirmed that an anti-human trafficking and child sexual exploitation task force was investigating the matter.
Philippine Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla said police had secured Markle's computer for digital forensic examination.
Markle, who moved to the Philippines last year, is reportedly receiving rehabilitation treatment in Florida following a leg amputation.
Meghan said the allegations had deeply distressed her and explained that her decision to maintain distance from her father, including preventing contact with her children, was motivated by concerns for their protection.
The developments leave separate questions surrounding the allegations themselves and the Metropolitan Police's handling of information received years earlier.